Oxide semiconductor, thin film transistor, and display device

ABSTRACT

An object is to control composition and a defect of an oxide semiconductor, another object is to increase a field effect mobility of a thin film transistor and to obtain a sufficient on-off ratio with a reduced off current. A solution is to employ an oxide semiconductor whose composition is represented by InMO 3 (ZnO) m , where M is one or a plurality of elements selected from Ga, Fe, Ni, Mn, Co, and Al, and m is preferably a non-integer number of greater than 0 and less than 1. The concentration of Zn is lower than the concentrations of In and M. The oxide semiconductor has an amorphous structure. Oxide and nitride layers can be provided to prevent pollution and degradation of the oxide semiconductor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an oxide semiconductor, a thin film transistor in which the oxide semiconductor is used, and a display device in which the thin film transistor is used.

2. Description of the Related Art

The most commonly used material for thin film transistor is hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H). Hydrogenated amorphous silicon can be deposited as a thin film over a substrate at a temperature of 300° C. or lower. However, a-Si:H has a disadvantage in that it has a mobility (a field effect mobility in the case of a thin film transistor) of only about 1 cm²/V·sec.

A transparent thin-film field-effect transistor is disclosed in which a thin film of a homologous compound InMO₃(ZnO)_(m) (M is In, Fe, Ga, or Al, and m is an integer number of greater than or equal to 1 and less than 50), as an oxide semiconductor material that can be formed into a thin film like a-Si:H, is used as an active layer (see Patent Document 1).

In addition, a thin film transistor is disclosed in which an amorphous oxide whose electron carrier concentration is less than 10¹⁸/cm³ is used for a channel layer and which is an oxide that contains In, Ga, and Zn, where the ratio of In atoms to Ga and Zn atoms is 1:1:m (m<6) (see Patent Document 2).

PATENT DOCUMENT 1

-   -   Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2004-103957

PATENT DOCUMENT 2

-   -   PCT International Publication No. 05/088726

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Nevertheless, so far an on-off ratio of about 10³ only has been obtained with a conventional thin film transistor in which an oxide semiconductor is used. In other words, even if a thin film transistor having a predetermined on current is obtained, it cannot be considered of normally-off type because the off current is too high. Therefore, the thin film transistor is not yet at the level of practical application. Such an on-off ratio of about 10³ is at a level that can be easily achieved with a conventional thin film transistor in which amorphous silicon is used.

It is an object of the present invention to increase field effect mobility of a thin film transistor in which a metal oxide is used and to reduce an off current to obtain a sufficient on-off ratio.

According to an embodiment that is given as an example, an oxide semiconductor contains In, Ga, and Zn as components and has a composition in which the concentration of Zn is lower than the concentrations of In and Ga. The oxide semiconductor preferably has an amorphous structure.

According to an embodiment that is given as an example, an oxide semiconductor is represented by InMO₃(ZnO)_(m) (M is one or a plurality of elements selected from Ga, Fe, Ni, Mn, Co, and Al, and m is a non-integer number of greater than or equal to 1 and less than 50) and has a composition in which the concentration of Zn is lower than the concentrations of In and M (M is one or a plurality of elements selected from Ga, Fe, Ni, Mn, Co, and Al). The oxide semiconductor preferably has an amorphous structure.

Here, m is preferably a non-integer number of greater than or equal to 1 and less than 50, more preferably less than 10. Although m can be a non-integer number of greater than or equal to 50, increase in the value of m makes it difficult to maintain the amorphous state.

According to an embodiment that is given as an example, in a thin film transistor, a layer of any of the oxide semiconductors according to the above embodiments is used as a channel formation region. An oxide insulating layer is preferably provided in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer. It is more preferable that the oxide insulating layer be provided over and under the oxide semiconductor layer. A nitride insulating layer is preferably provided outside of the oxide semiconductor layer.

According to an embodiment that is given as an example, in a display device, any of the thin film transistors of the above embodiments is provided for at least one pixel.

According to an embodiment that is given as an example, in a display device, the thin film transistors of any of the above embodiments are provided for at least one pixel and a driver circuit for controlling a signal to be transmitted to the thin film transistor provided in the pixel.

Of In, Ga, and Zn that are contained as components of the oxide semiconductor, the concentration of Zn is set lower than the concentrations of In and Ga, whereby the carrier concentration can be decreased and, furthermore, the oxide semiconductor can have an amorphous structure.

Such an oxide semiconductor layer is used as a channel formation region, whereby the off current of the thin film transistor can be reduced and the on-off ratio thereof can be increased.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a plan view illustrating a structure of a TFT with an oxide semiconductor layer and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view illustrating the same.

FIG. 2A is a plan view illustrating a structure of a TFT with an oxide semiconductor layer and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view illustrating the same.

FIG. 3A is a plan view illustrating a structure of a TFT with an oxide semiconductor layer and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view illustrating the same.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views illustrating a structure of a TFT with an oxide semiconductor layer.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating one mode of a display device including a TFT with an oxide semiconductor layer.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram illustrating a structure of a selector circuit including a TFT with an oxide semiconductor layer.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart illustrating an example of operation of a selector circuit.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a shift register including a TFT with an oxide semiconductor layer.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram illustrating a flip-flop circuit including a TFT with an oxide semiconductor layer.

FIG. 10 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a pixel including a TFT with an oxide semiconductor layer and a light-emitting element.

FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating a pixel structure of a light-emitting device including a TFT with an oxide semiconductor layer.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are cross-sectional views illustrating a pixel structure of a light-emitting device including a TFT with an oxide semiconductor layer.

FIG. 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating an input terminal portion of a light-emitting device including a TFT with an oxide semiconductor layer.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a contrast medium display device (electronic paper) including a TFT with an oxide semiconductor layer.

FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating a pixel structure of a liquid crystal display device including TFT with an oxide semiconductor layer.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a pixel structure of a liquid crystal display device including TFT with an oxide semiconductor layer.

FIG. 17 is a graph showing X-ray diffraction patterns of an oxide semiconductor layer (after deposition, after heat treatment at 350° C., and after heat treatment at 500° C.).

FIG. 18 is a graph showing gate voltage (Vg)-drain current (Id) characteristics of a thin film transistor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, Embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that it is easily understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be carried out in many different modes, and the modes and details disclosed herein can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the description below of Embodiment.

Oxide Semiconductor Material

An oxide semiconductor material according to this embodiment contains In, Ga, and Zn as components and has a composition in which the concentration of Zn is lower than the concentrations of In and Ga. For example, an oxide semiconductor material according to this embodiment is an oxide semiconductor material that is represented by InMO₃(ZnO)_(m) and has a composition in which the concentration of Zn is lower than the concentrations of In and M (M is one or a plurality of elements selected from Ga, Fe, Ni, Mn, Co, and Al). Moreover, in the said oxide semiconductor, in some cases, a transition metal element such as Fe or Ni or an oxide of the transition metal is contained as an impurity element in addition to a metal element M.

In the above oxide semiconductor represented by InMO₃(ZnO)_(m) (M is one or a plurality of elements selected from Ga, Fe, Ni, Mn, Co, and Al, and m is a non-integer number of greater than or equal to 1 and less than 50), m represents a non-integer number of greater than or equal to 1 and less than 50. An oxide semiconductor whose composition in a crystal state is represented by InGaO₃(ZnO)_(m), where m is an integer number of greater than or equal to 1 and less than 50, is known. However, in consideration of control during manufacture, a composition of InMO₃(ZnO)_(m), where m is a non-integer number, is preferable, in which case control is easily performed. In addition, m is preferably a non-integer number so that an amorphous structure of the oxide semiconductor material is maintained stably.

Here, m is preferably a non-integer number of greater than or equal to 1 and less than 50, more preferably less than 10. Although m can be a non-integer number of greater than or equal to 50, increase in the value of m makes it difficult to maintain the amorphous state.

In the oxide semiconductor that is represented by InMO₃(ZnO)_(m) (M is one or a plurality of elements selected from Ga, Fe, Ni, Mn, Co, and Al, and m is a non-integer number of greater than or equal to 1 and less than 50), the following composition is preferable: In is contained at a concentration of less than 20 atomic %, M (e.g., Ga) is contained at a concentration of less than 20 atomic %, and Zn is contained at a concentration of less than 10 atomic % when the total of the concentrations of In, M, Zn, and O is defined as 100%. A more preferable composition of the oxide semiconductor material that contains In, Ga as M, and Zn is as follows: In and Ga are each contained at a concentration of greater than or equal to 15.0 atomic % and less than or equal to 20.0 atomic %, and Zn is contained at a concentration of greater than or equal to 5.0 atomic % and less than or equal to 10.0 atomic %.

The oxide semiconductor has an amorphous structure, and it is not crystallized even by heat treatment at 500° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere. When the temperature of the heat treatment is increased to 700° C., nanocrystals are generated in the amorphous structure in some cases. In either case, the oxide semiconductor is a non-single-crystal semiconductor.

The concentration of Zn is made to be lower than the concentrations of In and Ga so that the oxide semiconductor has an amorphous structure. In the oxide semiconductor, the concentration of Zn is preferably less than or equal to the half of each of the concentrations of In and Ga. In the case where the proportion of Zn or ZnO in the oxide semiconductor is high, a film formed by a sputtering method is a crystallized film. In addition, in the case where the proportion of Zn or ZnO in the oxide semiconductor is high, even if the oxide semiconductor is amorphous in the initial state, it is easily crystallized by heat treatment at several hundred degrees Celsius. On the other hand, when the concentration of Zn is made to be lower than the concentrations of In and Ga, the range of composition by which an amorphous structure is obtained in the oxide semiconductor can be expanded.

Method for Forming Oxide Semiconductor Film

An oxide semiconductor film is preferably formed by a physical vapor deposition (PVD) method. Although a sputtering method, a resistance heating evaporation method, an electron beam evaporation method, an ion beam deposition method, or the like can be employed as a PVD method for forming the oxide semiconductor film, the sputtering method is preferably employed so that deposition of the oxide semiconductor film over a large substrate can be easily performed.

As a preferable deposition method, a reactive sputtering method can be employed in which metal targets made of In, M (M is one or a plurality of elements selected from Ga, Fe, Ni, Mn, Co, and Al), Zn, and the like are used and reacted with oxygen to deposit an oxide semiconductor film over a substrate. As another deposition method, a sputtering method can be employed in which a target made by sintering oxides of In, M (M is one or a plurality of elements selected from Ga, Fe, Ni, Mn, Co, and Al), and Zn is used. Further, as another deposition method, a reactive sputtering method can be employed in which a target made by sintering oxides of In, M (M is one or a plurality of elements selected from Ga, Fe, Ni, Mn, Co, and Al), and Zn is used and the target is reacted to deposit an oxide semiconductor film over a substrate.

As an example of a target used in the sputtering method, a sintered body of In₂O₃, Ga₂O₃, and ZnO can be employed. The proportions of elements of such a target are preferably set as follows: the proportions of In₂O₃, Ga₂O₃, and ZnO are set to the same value, or the proportion of ZnO is smaller than the proportions of In₂O₃ and Ga₂O₃. Although the composition of the oxide semiconductor film deposited over the substrate is changed depending on a sputtering rate of a target material to a sputtering gas, the use of at least the above composition of the target makes it possible to obtain an oxide semiconductor film in which In, Ga, and Zn are contained as components and the concentration of Zn is lower than the concentrations of In and Ga.

Sputtering is performed in such a manner that DC power is applied to the above target to generate plasma in a deposition chamber. Use of a pulsed DC power source is preferable, in which case dust can be reduced and film thickness distribution can be uniform.

Of In, Ga, and Zn that are contained as components of the oxide semiconductor, the concentration of Zn is set lower than the concentrations of In and Ga, whereby the carrier concentration can be decreased and the oxide semiconductor can have an amorphous structure.

Thin Film Transistor

As a substrate for manufacturing a thin film transistor using an oxide semiconductor film for a channel formation region, a glass substrate, a plastic substrate, a plastic film, or the like can be used. As the glass substrate, a glass substrate of barium borosilicate glass, aluminoborosilicate glass, aluminosilicate glass, or the like can be used. For example, a glass substrate containing barium oxide (BaO) at a higher composition ratio than that of boric oxide (B₂O₃) and having a strain point of 730° C. or higher is preferably used. The oxide semiconductor film can be formed at 200° C. or lower by a sputtering method, and a substrate made of a plastic material typified by polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyethersulfone (PES), or polyimide, a plastic film of the above plastic material which has a thickness of 200 μm or less can be used.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an example of a thin film transistor manufactured over a surface of a substrate 101. FIG 1A is a plan view of a thin film transistor, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along a line A1-B1.

The thin film transistor illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B has a bottom gate structure in which a gate electrode 102 and a gate insulating layer 103 are sequentially formed over the substrate 101 and an oxide semiconductor layer 106 is formed over the gate insulating layer 103. A source electrode 104 and a drain electrode 105 are provided between the gate insulating layer 103 and the oxide semiconductor layer 106. In other words, the oxide semiconductor layer 106 is provided to overlap the gate electrode 102 and to be in contact with part of an upper portion of the gate insulating layer 103 and part of a side portion and an upper portion of the source electrode 104 and the drain electrode 105. A structure in which the source electrode 104 and the drain electrode 105 are provided over the gate insulating layer 103 before the oxide semiconductor layer 106 is advantageous in that a base surface can be cleaned by plasma treatment before forming the oxide semiconductor layer 106 thereover.

The gate electrode 102 is preferably formed of a refractory metal such as Ti, Mo, Cr, Ta, or W. Alternatively, the gate electrode 102 may have a structure in which a layer of a refractory metal typified by Mo, Cr, or Ti is provided either over an Al film or over an Al film to which Si, Ti, Nd, Sc, Cu, or the like is added.

The gate insulating layer 103 is preferably formed of oxide or nitride of silicon, such as silicon oxide, silicon nitride, or silicon oxynitride. In particular, when the gate insulating layer 103 is formed of silicon oxide, the leakage current between the source electrode and the gate electrode and between the drain electrode and the gate electrode can be as low as about 10⁻¹⁰ A, or less. These insulating layers can be formed by a plasma CVD method, a sputtering method, or the like.

For example, as the gate insulating layer 103, a silicon oxide layer can be formed by a CVD method using an organosilane gas. As the organosilane gas, a silicon-containing compound such as tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) (chemical formula: Si(OC₂H₅)₄), tetramethylsilane (TMS) (chemical formula: Si(CH₃)₄), tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (TMCTS), octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (OMCTS), hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS), triethoxysilane (SiH(OC₂H₅)₃), or trisdimethylaminosilane (SiH(N(CH₃)₂)₃) can be used.

The source electrode 104 and the drain electrode 105 are preferably formed of a refractory metal such as Ti, Mo, Cr, Ta, or W. In particular, a metal material having high affinity for oxygen, typified by Ti, is preferably used. This is because such a metal material easily makes an ohmic contact with the oxide semiconductor layer 106. Other than Ti, Mo can also be used to obtain a similar effect. The source electrode 104 and the drain electrode 105 are preferably processed by etching to have a tapered end shape. In this manner, their contact areas with the oxide semiconductor layer 106 can be increased. Between the source and drain electrodes 104 and 105 and the oxide semiconductor film, an oxide semiconductor film having an oxygen-deficient defect (an oxide semiconductor film having a lower resistance than the oxide semiconductor film which is used for a channel formation region) may be provided.

As another mode of the source electrode 104 and the drain electrode 105, the electrodes may have a structure in which a layer of a refractory metal typified by Mo, Cr, or Ti is provided over and/or under an Al film or an Al film to which Si, Ti, Nd, Sc, Cu, or the like is added. This structure is advantageous when a wiring for transmitting signals is formed at the same time and with the same layer as a layer for forming the source electrode 104 and the drain electrode 105. The layer of a refractory metal provided in contact with the Al film is preferably provided in order to prevent hillocks or whiskers from being formed on the Al film. Note that the term “hillock” refers to a phenomenon in which as crystal growth of Al proceeds, growing components impinge on each other to form a bump. The term “whisker” refers to a phenomenon in which Al grows into a needle-like shape due to abnormal growth.

The oxide semiconductor layer 106 is formed by a PVD method typified by a sputtering method. As a sputtering target, a sintered body of oxides of In, M (M is one or a plurality of elements selected from Ga, Fe, Ni, Mn, Co, and Al), and Zn is preferably used as described above. For example, the oxide semiconductor film is formed by a sputtering method using a sintered body of In₂O₃, Ga₂O₃, and ZnO as a target.

As a sputtering gas, a rare gas typified by argon is used. In order to control the oxygen-deficient defect of the oxide semiconductor film, a predetermined amount of an oxygen gas may be added to a rare gas. By increasing the ratio of an oxygen gas to a rare gas in a sputtering gas, the oxygen-deficient defect in an oxide semiconductor can be reduced. The control of the oxygen-deficient defect in an oxide semiconductor makes it possible to control the threshold voltage of a thin film transistor.

Before the oxide semiconductor layer 106 is formed, it is preferable to perform treatment for cleaning a deposition surface by introducing an argon gas into a deposition chamber of a sputtering apparatus and generating plasma. Instead of an argon atmosphere, nitrogen, helium, or the like may be used. Alternatively, the treatment may be performed in an atmosphere obtained by adding oxygen, N₂O, or the like to an argon atmosphere. Still alternatively, the treatment may be performed in an atmosphere obtained by adding Cl₂, CF₄, or the like to an argon atmosphere.

After the oxide semiconductor layer 106 is formed, heat treatment at 200° C. to 600° C., preferably 300° C. to 400° C., is performed in air or in a nitrogen atmosphere. Through this heat treatment, the field-effect mobility of a thin film transistor can be increased. The field-effect mobility of the thin film transistor with the oxide semiconductor described in this embodiment can be as high as 5 cm²/V·sec, or more.

When a voltage of about 5 V is applied between a source electrode and a drain electrode of such a thin film transistor as described above and when no voltage is applied to a gate electrode, the current flowing between the source electrode and the drain electrode can be as low as 1×10⁻¹¹ A, or less. Even in a state where a voltage of −10 V is applied to the gate electrode, the current flowing between the source electrode and the drain electrode is 1×10⁻¹¹ A, or less.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate an example of a thin film transistor manufactured over a surface of a substrate 101. FIG. 2A is a plan view of a thin film transistor, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along a line A2-B2.

The thin film transistor illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B has a bottom gate structure in which a gate electrode 102 and a gate insulating layer 103 are sequentially formed over the substrate 101 and an oxide semiconductor layer 106 is formed over the gate insulating layer 103. In this structure, a source electrode 104 and a drain electrode 105 are in contact with a side surface and an upper surface of the oxide semiconductor layer 106.

In the thin film transistor having such a structure, the gate insulating layer 103, the oxide semiconductor layer 106, and a conductive layer for forming the source electrode 104 and the drain electrode 105 can be formed successively. In other words, these layers can be stacked without exposing the interface between the gate insulating layer 103 and the oxide semiconductor layer 106 and the interface between the oxide semiconductor layer 106 and the conductive layer to air; thus, each interface can be prevented from being contaminated.

Further, the off current can be reduced by performing etching to remove a superficial portion of the oxide semiconductor layer 106 which is exposed between the source electrode 104 and the drain electrode 105. Furthermore, by performing oxygen plasma treatment on the exposed portion of the oxide semiconductor layer 106 or the surface obtained by etching removal, the resistance of the superficial portion exposed to plasma can be increased. This is because the oxygen-deficient defect in the oxide semiconductor is oxidized and thus the carrier concentration (electron concentration) is decreased. By this oxygen plasma treatment, the off current of the thin film transistor can be reduced.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an example of a thin film transistor manufactured over a surface of a substrate 101. FIG. 3A is an example of a plan view of a thin film transistor, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along a line A3-B3.

The thin film transistor illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B has a top gate structure in which a source electrode 104 and a drain electrode 105, an oxide semiconductor layer 106, a gate insulating layer 103, and a gate electrode 102 are sequentially formed over the substrate 101. The off current of the thin film transistor can be reduced and the on-off ratio thereof can be increased in the case where the oxide semiconductor layer 106 of the previously described thin film transistor is formed with an oxide semiconductor material that is represented by InMO₃(ZnO)_(m) (M is one or a plurality of elements selected from Ga, Fe, Ni, Mn, Co, and Al, and m is a non-integer number of greater than or equal to 1 and less than 50) and has the following composition: In is contained at a concentration of less than 20 atomic %, M (e.g., Ga) is contained at a concentration of less than 20 atomic %, and Zn is contained at a concentration of less than 10 atomic % when the total of the concentrations of In, M, Zn, and O is defined as 100%.

FIG. 4A illustrates an example in which an oxide insulating layer 107 is provided over the oxide semiconductor layer 106, which is opposite to the gate insulating layer 103 (on a back channel side). For the oxide insulating layer 107, any one of aluminum oxide, aluminum oxynitride, yttrium oxide, or hafnium oxide, as well as silicon oxide mentioned above, can be used. With the structure of FIG. 4A, in which the oxide semiconductor layer 106 is sandwiched between a gate insulating layer 103 comprising silicon oxide and the oxide insulating layer 107, the formation of an oxygen-deficient defect due to the release of oxygen from the oxide semiconductor layer 106 can be prevented.

FIG. 4B illustrates a structure in which a nitride insulating layer 108 is provided over the oxide insulating layer 107. For the nitride insulating layer 108, silicon nitride, aluminum nitride, or the like can be used. With the nitride insulating layer 108, contamination by water vapor, an organic substance, and ionic metal from the external environment can be prevented. Note that in the structure of FIG. 4B, the gate insulating layer 103 having a two-layer structure of a silicon nitride layer and a silicon oxide layer is also effective. In that case, the oxide semiconductor layer 106 is sandwiched between upper oxide and nitride insulating layers and lower oxide and nitride insulating layers; thus, the above-described effect can be further enhanced.

Device Including Thin Film Transistor

A thin film transistor with the oxide semiconductor described in this embodiment can be used for a variety of applications because of its high field-effect mobility and high on-off ratio. A mode of a display device will be described as an example.

FIG. 5 illustrates a display device 109 in which a pixel portion 110, a scan line driver circuit 111, and a selector circuit 112 on a signal line side are provided over a substrate 101. Switching elements provided in the pixel portion 110, the scan line driver circuit 111, and the selector circuit 112 on the signal line side include thin film transistors whose channel formation regions are each formed in an oxide semiconductor layer. With the use of a thin film transistor whose channel formation region is formed in an oxide semiconductor layer and whose field-effect mobility is 5 cm²/V·sec to 20 cm²/V·sec, the scan line driver circuit 111 and the selector circuit 112 on the signal line side can be formed. The selector circuit 112 is a circuit which selects signal lines 116 and assigns a video signal transmitted from a driver IC 114 to a predetermined signal line 116 at a predetermined timing In this example, the thin film transistor is of an n-channel type, and thus the scan line driver circuit 111 and the selector circuit 112 on the signal line side include n-channel thin film transistors.

In the pixel portion 110 including a plurality of scan lines 115 and a plurality of signals lines 116 which intersect with the scan lines 115, pixel transistors 117 are provided. The pixel transistors 117 are arranged in matrix. To the pixel transistors 117, scan signals are input through the scan lines 115 and video signals are input through the signal lines 116. Video signals are input to input terminals 113 from the driver IC 114. The driver IC 114 is formed on a single crystal substrate and mounted by a tape-automated bonding (TAB) method or a chip-on-glass (COG) method.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a structure of the selector circuit 112 including n-channel thin film transistors. The selector circuit 112 includes a plurality of arranged switch circuits 119. In each switch circuit 119, one video signal input line 120 is provided with a plurality of signal lines 116 (S1 to S3) extending to the pixel portion 110. The switch circuit 119 is provided with switching elements 121, the number of which corresponds to the number of the signal lines 116. When these switching elements 121 include thin film transistors whose channel formation regions are each formed in an oxide semiconductor layer, the switch circuit 119 can operate at high speed in accordance with frequencies of video signals. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the switch circuit 119 in which the signal line 116 (S1), the signal line 116 (S2), and the signal line 116 (S3) are provided with a switching element 121 a, a switching element 121 b, and a switching element 121 c, respectively. The determination of whether to turn the switching element 121 on or off is controlled with a signal which is input through a synchronization signal input line 122 that is a different route from the video signal input line 120.

The operation of the selector circuit 112 illustrated in FIG. 6 will be described with reference to a timing chart illustrated in FIG. 7 . The timing chart in FIG. 7 illustrates, as an example, the case where a scan line of the i-th row is selected and a video signal input line 120 of a given column is connected to the selector circuit 112. A selection period of the scan line of the i-th row is divided into a first sub-selection period T1, a second sub-selection period T2, and a third sub-selection period T3. This timing chart also illustrates timings at which the switching element 121 a, the switching element 121 b, and the switching element 121 c are turned on or off and signals which are input to the video signal input line 120.

As illustrated in FIG. 7 , in a first sub-selection period T1, the switching element 121 a is turned on and the switching element 121 b and the switching element 121 c are turned off. At this time, a video signal VD(1) input to the video signal input line 120 is output to the signal line 116 (S1) via the switching element 121 a. In a second sub-selection period T2, the switching element 121 b is turned on and the switching element 121 a and the switching element 121 c are turned off, and a video signal VD(2) is output to the signal line 116 (S2) via the switching element 121 b. In a third sub-selection period T3, the switching element 121 c is turned on and the switching element 121 a and the switching element 121 b are turned off, and a video signal VD(3) is output to the signal line 116 (S3) via the switching element 121 c.

By dividing one gate selection period into three as described above, the selector circuit 112 of FIG. 6 can input video signals to three signal lines 116 (S1 to S3) through one video signal input line 120 during one gate selection period. Thus, when the selector circuit 112 is provided over the substrate 101 together with the pixel transistors 117, the number of input terminals 113 to which signals of the driver IC are input can be reduced to ⅓ of that in the case where the selector circuit 112 is not provided. Accordingly, the possibility of generation of a contact defect between the driver IC and the input terminals 113 can be reduced.

The scan line driver circuit 111 can also be formed with thin film transistors whose channel formation regions are each provided in an oxide semiconductor layer. The scan line driver circuit 111 includes a shift register as a component. When a clock signal (CLK) and a start pulse signal (SP) are input to the shift register, a selection signal is generated. The generated selection signal is buffered and amplified by a buffer, and the resulting signal is supplied to a corresponding scan line 115. Gate electrodes of pixel transistors 117 of one line are connected to each scan line 115. A mode of a shift register 123 included in part of the scan line driver circuit 111 will be described here with reference to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 .

FIG. 8 illustrates a structure of the shift register 123. The shift register 123 includes plural stages of flip-flop circuits 124 which are connected. An example of the flip-flop circuit 124 is illustrated in FIG. 9 . The flip-flop circuit 124 illustrated in FIG. 9 includes a plurality of thin film transistors (hereinafter referred to as “TFTs” in the description of FIG. 9 ). The flip-flop circuit 124 illustrated in FIG. 9 includes n-channel TFTs which are a TFT (1) 125, a TFT (2) 126, a TFT (3) 127, a TFT (4) 128, a TFT (5) 129, a TFT (6) 130, a TFT (7) 131, and a TFT (8) 132. An n-channel TFT is turned on when the gate-source voltage (Vgs) exceeds the threshold voltage (Vth).

Although the case where all TFTs included in the flip-flop circuit 124 illustrated in FIG. 9 are enhancement-mode n-channel transistors is described, the driver circuit can also be driven if a depletion-mode n-channel transistor is used as the TFT (3) 127, for example.

A first electrode (one of a source electrode and a drain electrode) of the TFT (1) 125 is connected to a wiring (4) 136, and a second electrode (the other of the source electrode and the drain electrode) of the TFT (1) 125 is connected to a wiring (3) 135.

A first electrode of the TFT (2) 126 is connected to a wiring (6) 138, and a second electrode of the TFT (2) 126 is connected to the wiring (3) 135.

A first electrode of the TFT (3) 127 is connected to a wiring (5) 137; a second electrode of the TFT (3) 127 is connected to a gate electrode of the TFT (2) 126; and a gate electrode of the TFT (3) 127 is connected to the wiring (5) 137.

A first electrode of the TFT (4) 128 is connected to the wiring (6) 138; a second electrode of the TFT (4) 128 is connected to the gate electrode of the TFT (2) 126; and a gate electrode of the TFT (4) 128 is connected to a gate electrode of the TFT (1) 125.

A first electrode of the TFT (5) 129 is connected to the wiring (5) 137; a second electrode of the TFT (5) 129 is connected to the gate electrode of the TFT (1) 125; and a gate electrode of the TFT (5) 129 is connected to a wiring (1) 133.

A first electrode of the TFT (6) 130 is connected to the wiring (6) 138; a second electrode of the TFT (6) 130 is connected to the gate electrode of the TFT (1) 125; and a gate electrode of the TFT (6) 130 is connected to the gate electrode of the TFT (2) 126.

A first electrode of the TFT (7) 131 is connected to the wiring (6) 138; a second electrode of the TFT (7) 131 is connected to the gate electrode of the TFT (1) 125; and a gate electrode of the TFT (7) 131 is connected to a wiring (2) 134. A first electrode of the TFT (8) 132 is connected to the wiring (6) 138; a second electrode of the TFT (8) 132 is connected to the gate electrode of the TFT (2) 126; and a gate electrode of the TFT (8) 132 is connected to the wiring (1) 133.

A thin film transistor whose channel formation region is provided in an oxide semiconductor layer has high field-effect mobility and thus its operation frequency can be set high. In addition, because the frequency characteristics of the thin film transistor are high, the scan line driver circuit 111 can operate at high speed, and a display device can operate with high frame frequency.

In FIG. 5 , the structure of the pixel portion 110 varies with a display medium 118. When the display medium 118 is a liquid crystal element in which a liquid crystal material is interposed between electrodes, the display medium 118 can be controlled by the pixel transistor 117 as illustrated in FIG. 5 . The same applies to the case of a display medium 118 in which a contrast medium (electronic ink or an electrophoretic material) is interposed between a pair of electrodes. The pixel portion 110 including these display media 118 can be operated by being combined with the above-mentioned driver circuit.

When employed as the display medium 118, a light-emitting element formed using an electroluminescent material is more suitable for a time gray scale method than a liquid crystal element because its response speed is higher than that of a liquid crystal element or the like. For example, in the case of performing display by a time gray scale method, one frame period is divided into a plurality of subframe periods. Then, in accordance with video signals, the light-emitting element is set in a light-emitting state or in a non-light-emitting state during each subframe period. By dividing one frame period into a plurality of subframe periods, the total length of time, in which pixels actually emit light during one frame period, can be controlled with video signals so that gray scales can be displayed.

An example of a pixel in the case where the pixel portion 110 includes light-emitting elements is illustrated in FIG. 10 . FIG. 10 illustrates a structure of a pixel to which digital time gray scale driving can be applied. Described here is an example in which two n-channel thin film transistors each formed using an oxide semiconductor layer for a channel formation region are included in one pixel.

A pixel 139 includes a switching TFT 140, a driving TFT 141, a light-emitting element 142, and a capacitor 145. A gate of the switching TFT 140 is connected to a scan line 115; a first electrode (one of a source electrode and a drain electrode) of the switching TFT 140 is connected to a signal line 116; and a second electrode (the other of the source electrode and the drain electrode) of the switching TFT 140 is connected to a gate of the driving TFT 141. The gate of the driving TFT 141 is connected to a power supply line 146 through the capacitor 145; a first electrode of the driving TFT 141 is connected to the power supply line 146; and a second electrode of the driving TFT 141 is connected to a first electrode (a pixel electrode) 143 of the light-emitting element 142. A second electrode (a counter electrode) 144 of the light-emitting element 142 is connected to a common potential line 147.

The second electrode (the counter electrode) 144 of the light-emitting element 142 is set to have a low power supply potential. Note that the low power supply potential refers to a potential satisfying the formula (the low power supply potential)<(a high power supply potential) based on the high power supply potential set to the power supply line 146. As the low power supply potential, GND, 0 V, or the like may be set, for example. In order to make the light-emitting element 142 emit light by applying a potential difference between the high power supply potential and the low power supply potential to the light-emitting element 142 so that current is supplied to the light-emitting element 142, each of the potentials is set so that the potential difference between the high power supply potential and the low power supply potential is equal to or higher than the forward threshold voltage of the light-emitting element 142.

In the case of a voltage-input voltage driving method, a video signal is input to the gate of the driving TFT 141 such that the driving TFT 141 is in either of two states of being sufficiently turned on and turned off. That is, the driving TFT 141 operates in the linear region. A voltage higher than a voltage of the power supply line 146 is applied to the gate of the driving TFT 141 so that the driving TFT 141 operates in the linear region. Note that a voltage equal to or higher than the voltage represented by the formula (the voltage of the power supply line)+(the threshold voltage of the driving TFT 141) is applied to the signal line 116.

Instead of digital time gray scale driving, analog gray scale driving can also be applied to the structure of the pixel illustrated in FIG. 10 . In the case of analog gray scale driving, a voltage equal to or higher than the voltage represented by the formula (the forward voltage of the light-emitting element 142)+(the threshold voltage of the driving TFT 141) is applied to the gate of the driving TFT 141. The forward voltage of the light-emitting element 142 refers to a voltage needed for a desired luminance and includes at least a forward threshold voltage. Note that when a video signal by which the driving TFT 141 operates in the saturation region is input, current can be supplied to the light-emitting element 142. The potential of the power supply line 146 is set higher than the gate potential of the driving TFT 141 so that the driving TFT 141 operates in the saturation region. When the video signal is an analog signal, current in accordance with the video signal can be supplied to the light-emitting element 142 and analog gray scale driving can be performed.

Although FIG. 10 illustrates the example in which the driving TFT 141 which controls the driving of the light-emitting element 142 is electrically connected to the light-emitting element, a structure may be employed in which a current controlling TFT is connected between the driving TFT 141 and the light-emitting element 142.

Although FIG. 5 illustrates the example of the display device 109 in which the selector circuit 112 for selecting the signal lines 116 is provided, the function of the driver IC 114 can be realized with a thin film transistor formed using an oxide semiconductor layer for a channel formation region when the thin film transistor has a field-effect mobility as high as 10 cm/V·sec or more. That is, the scan line driver circuit and the signal line driver circuit can be formed over the substrate 101 with thin film transistors which are each formed using an oxide semiconductor layer for a channel formation region.

Light-Emitting Device

A structure of a pixel of a light-emitting device, which is one mode of a display device, will be described with reference to FIG. 11 and FIGS. 12A and 12B. FIG. 11 is an example of a plan view of a pixel; FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view taken along a line C1-D1; and FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view taken along a line C2-D2. In the following description, FIG. 11 and FIGS. 12A and 12B are referred to. Note that an equivalent circuit of the pixel illustrated in FIG. 11 is similar to that in FIG. 10 .

A channel formation region of a switching TFT 140 is formed in an oxide semiconductor layer 153. The oxide semiconductor layer 153 is similar to that which is described in this embodiment. The switching TFT 140 has a gate electrode 148 formed with the same layer as a scan line 115, and the oxide semiconductor layer 153 is provided over a gate insulating layer 152. The oxide semiconductor layer 153 is in contact with a source/drain electrode 155 and a source/drain electrode 156 which are formed with the same layer as a signal line 116 over the gate insulating layer 152. The source/drain electrode 156 is connected to a gate electrode 149 of a driving TFT 141 via a contact hole 159 which is provided in the gate insulating layer 152.

Note that the term “source/drain electrode” refers to an electrode provided in a thin film transistor including a source, a drain, and a gate as its major components, at a portion serving as the source or the drain.

The signal line 116, the source/drain electrode 155, and the source/drain electrode 156 are preferably formed with an Al film or an Al film to which Si, Ti, Nd, Sc, Cu, or the like is added, so that the resistance of a wiring or an electrode can be lowered. A layer of a refractory metal typified by Mo, Cr, or Ti is preferably provided over and/or under the Al film so that the generation of hillocks or whiskers on the Al film can be prevented.

The gate electrode 149 functions also as a capacitor electrode 150 of a capacitor 145. The capacitor 145 is formed by stacking the capacitor electrode 150, the gate insulating layer 152, and a capacitor electrode 151 which is formed with the same layer as a power supply line 146.

The gate electrode 149 of the driving TFT 141 is formed with the same layer as the scan line 115, and an oxide semiconductor layer 154 is provided over the gate insulating layer 152. The oxide semiconductor layer 154 is in contact with a source/drain electrode 157 and a source/drain electrode 158 which are formed with the same layer as the power supply line 146 over the gate insulating layer 152.

Over the oxide semiconductor layer 153 and the oxide semiconductor layer 154, an oxide insulating layer 107 is provided. A first electrode (a pixel electrode) 143 is provided over the oxide insulating layer 107. The first electrode (the pixel electrode) 143 and the source/drain electrode 158 are connected to each other via a contact hole 160 provided in the oxide insulating layer 107. A partition layer 161 having an opening to the first electrode (the pixel electrode) 143 is formed with an inorganic insulating material or an organic insulating material. The partition layer 161 is formed such that its end portion at the opening has a gently curved surface.

A light-emitting element 142 has a structure in which an EL layer 162 is provided between the first electrode (the pixel electrode) 143 and a second electrode (a counter electrode) 144. One of the first electrode (the pixel electrode) 143 and the second electrode (the counter electrode) 144 is a hole injecting electrode; the other is an electron injecting electrode. The hole injecting electrode is preferably formed with a material which has a work function of 4 eV or higher, and a material such as indium oxide containing tungsten oxide, indium zinc oxide containing tungsten oxide, indium oxide containing titanium oxide, indium tin oxide containing titanium oxide, indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, or indium tin oxide to which silicon oxide is added is used. The electron injecting electrode is preferably formed with a material which has a work function lower than 4 eV, and calcium (Ca), aluminum (Al), calcium fluoride (CaF), magnesium silver (MgAg), aluminum lithium (AlLi), or the like is desirable. The EL layer 162 is a layer for obtaining light emission by electroluminescence and is formed by combining a carrier (hole or electron) transporting layer and a light-emitting layer as appropriate.

FIGS. 13A to 13C illustrate a structure of an input terminal 113 of the light-emitting device. FIG. 13A is a plan view of the input terminal 113. The input terminal 113 is provided at an end of the substrate 101. A cross-sectional view taken along a line G-H in FIG. 13A is illustrated in FIG. 13B or FIG. 13C.

FIG. 13B illustrates an example in which an input terminal layer 170 is formed with the same layer as the scan line 115. Over the input terminal layer 170, the gate insulating layer 152 and the oxide insulating layer 107 are stacked, and an opening 173 is provided in these insulating layers so that the input terminal layer 170 is exposed through the opening 173 in the insulating layers. The opening 173 is covered with a transparent conductive film 172 which is in contact with the input terminal layer 170. The transparent conductive film 172 is provided in order to avoid high contact resistance when a flexible printed wiring and the input terminal 113 are connected. The oxidation of a surface of the input terminal layer 170 which is formed of a metal leads to an increase in contact resistance; the increase in contact resistance can be prevented in the case where the transparent conductive film 172 formed with an oxide conductive material is provided.

FIG. 13C illustrates an example in which the input terminal layer 171 is formed with the same layer as the signal line 116. Over the input terminal layer 171, the oxide insulating layer 107 is provided, and the opening 173 is provided in this insulating layer so that the input terminal layer 171 is exposed through the opening 173 in the insulating layer. The transparent conductive film 172 is provided for the same reason as above.

Contrast Medium Display Device

FIG. 14 illustrates one mode of a display device including a contrast medium 163 (such a display device is also called “electronic paper”). The contrast medium 163 is held between the first electrode (the pixel electrode) 143 and the second electrode (the counter electrode) 144 together with a filler 164 and changes its contrast when a potential difference is applied between the electrodes. The second electrode (the counter electrode) 144 is provided on the counter substrate 165.

For example, there is a display method, which is called a twisting ball display method, in which spherical particles each colored in white and black are disposed between the first electrode (the pixel electrode) 143 and the second electrode (the counter electrode) 144 and the orientation of the spherical particles is controlled by a potential difference generated between the electrodes.

Instead of the twisting balls, an electrophoretic element can also be used. A microcapsule having a diameter of approximately 10 μm to 200 μm, in which a transparent filler 164, positively charged white microparticles, and negatively charged black microparticles are encapsulated, is used. The microcapsule is sandwiched between the first electrode (the pixel electrode) 143 and the second electrode (the counter electrode) 144, and the positively charged white microparticles and the negatively charged black microparticles are moved separately in different directions by a potential difference between the electrodes. A display element using this principle is an electrophoretic display element and is generally called electronic paper. The electrophoretic display element has a higher reflectivity than a liquid crystal display element and accordingly does not require an auxiliary light and consumes less power, and a display portion can be recognized even in a dim place. In addition, even when power is not supplied to the display portion, an image which has been displayed once can be maintained. Accordingly, a displayed image can be stored even if a semiconductor device having a display function (which may simply be referred to as a display device or a semiconductor device provided with a display device) is distanced from an electric wave source.

Liquid Crystal Display Device

A structure of a pixel of a liquid crystal display device, which is one mode of a display device, will be described with reference to FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 . FIG. 15 is a plan view of a pixel, and FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line E1-F1. In the following description, FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 are referred to.

A pixel of a liquid crystal display device illustrated in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 includes a switching TFT 140 which is connected to a scan line 115 and a signal line 116. A source/drain electrode 155 of the switching TFT 140 is connected to the signal line 116, and a source/drain electrode 156 thereof is connected to a first electrode (a pixel electrode) 143 via a contact hole 167 provided in an oxide insulating layer 107. A capacitor 145 is formed by stacking a capacitor line 166 which is formed with the same layer as a gate electrode 148, a gate insulating layer 152, and the source/drain electrode 156. A switching TFT 140 controls the input of a signal to the first electrode (the pixel electrode) 143. The structure of the switching TFT 140 is similar to that illustrated in FIG. 12A.

A liquid crystal layer 169 is provided between the first electrode (the pixel electrode) 143 and a second electrode (a counter electrode) 144. The first electrode (the pixel electrode) 143 is provided over the oxide insulating layer 107. Alignment films 168 are provided on the first electrode (the pixel electrode) 143 and the second electrode (the counter electrode) 144.

As described above, a display device having excellent operation characteristics can be completed with a thin film transistor whose channel formation region is formed in an oxide semiconductor layer in accordance with this embodiment.

EXAMPLE 1 Composition of Oxide Semiconductor Layer

Oxide semiconductor layers were formed over glass substrates by a sputtering method under the conditions described below.

Condition 1

-   -   Target composition: In₂O₃:Ga₂O₃:ZnO=1:1:1     -   (In:Ga:Zn=1:1:0.5)     -   Ar gas flow rate: 40 sccm     -   Pressure: 0.4 Pa     -   Electric power (DC): 500 W     -   Substrate temperature: room temperature

Condition 2

-   -   Target composition: In₂O₃:Ga₂O₃:ZnO=1:1:1     -   (In:Ga:Zn=1:1:0.5)     -   Ar gas flow rate: 10 sccm     -   Oxygen gas flow rate: 5 sccm     -   Pressure: 0.4 Pa     -   Electric power (DC): 500 W     -   Substrate temperature: room temperature

The oxide semiconductor layers formed under Conditions 1 and 2 were evaluated by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Table 1 shows typical examples of measurement. The oxide semiconductor layer obtained under Condition 1 has a composition that is represented by the following formula: InGa_(0.95)Zn_(0.41)O_(3.33). The oxide semiconductor layer obtained under Condition 2 has a composition that is represented by the following formula: InGa_(0.94)Zn_(0.40)O_(3.31).

TABLE 1 Composition (atomic %) In Ga Zn O Composition formula Condition 1 17.6 16.7 7.2 58.6 InGa_(0.95)Zn_(0.41)O_(3.33) Condition 2 17.7 16.7 7 58.6 InGa_(0.94)Zn_(0.40)O_(3.31)

As described above, the measurement by ICP-MS confirms that m in InMO₃(ZnO)_(m) is not an integer number. In addition, the proportions of components confirm that the concentration of Zn is lower than the concentrations of In and Ga.

Structure of Oxide Semiconductor Layer

A structure of an oxide semiconductor layer formed to a thickness of 400 nm over a glass substrate under Condition 2 described above was evaluated by X-ray diffraction.

FIG. 17 shows X-ray diffraction patterns of a sample (as-deposited) formed under Condition 2, a sample after being subjected to heat treatment at 350° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere for one hour after the deposition, and a sample after being subjected to heat treatment at 500° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere for one hour after the deposition. A halo pattern was observed in all of the samples, which confirms that the samples have an amorphous structure.

Note that when a sample formed using a target whose composition ratio of In₂O₃ to Ga₂O₃ and ZnO was 1:1:2 was also evaluated by X-ray diffraction, the similar evaluation results were obtained, which confirms that the oxide semiconductor layer formed in this example has an amorphous structure.

Characteristics of Thin Film Transistor

FIG. 18 shows gate voltage (Vg)-drain current (Id) characteristics of a thin film transistor. The thin film transistor has a bottom gate structure illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, and the channel length is 100 μm and the channel width is 100 μm. The oxide semiconductor layer was formed under Condition 2 described above. A field effect mobility of greater than or equal to 15 cm²/V·sec, an off current of less than or equal to 1×10⁻¹¹ A, and a ratio of on current to off current (an on-off ratio) of greater than or equal to 10⁸ were obtained. As described above, the thin film transistor having a high on-off ratio which could not be obtained with conventional thin film transistors could be obtained.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application serial no. 2008-274564 filed with Japan Patent Office on Oct. 24, 2008, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 

1. (canceled)
 2. A display device comprising: a pixel comprising a transistor, a scan line, and a signal line; a first input terminal comprising a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer over and overlapping with the first conductive layer; and a second input terminal comprising a third conductive layer and a fourth conductive layer over and overlapping with the fourth conductive layer, wherein the transistor comprises: a source electrode and a drain electrode; an oxide semiconductor layer electrically connected to the source electrode and the drain electrode; a gate electrode overlapping with the oxide semiconductor layer; and a gate insulating layer between the oxide semiconductor layer and the gate electrode, wherein the oxide semiconductor layer comprises In, Ga, and Zn, wherein the first conductive layer is formed with the same layer as the scan line, wherein the third conductive layer is formed with the same layer as the signal line, and wherein each of the second conductive layer and the fourth conductive layer comprises a transparent conductive material.
 3. The display device according to claim 2, wherein a concentration of Zn is lower than a concentration of In in the oxide semiconductor layer.
 4. The display device according to claim 2, wherein a concentration of Zn is lower than a concentration of Ga in the oxide semiconductor layer.
 5. The display device according to claim 2, wherein the third conductive layer is in contact with the fourth conductive layer. 